scar tissue attached to intestine after gall bladder surgery

HABEEB · Newbie Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

I HAD MY GALLBLADDER OUT 3 MONTHS AGO, NOW HAVING A BURNING SENSATION OVER THE RUQ, AND A DULL ACHE IN MY RIGHT FLANK. SOMETIMES THE PAIN IN MY SIDE ISN'T PAIN AT ALL, IN FACT, IT FEELS LIKE THERES JUST SOMETHING THERE APPLING LIGHT PRESSURE. I TO FEEL LIKE I'M GOING NUTS WITH THIS,I JUST WISH IT WOULD BE OVER. I'M ONLY 25YRS. OLD, I'M NOT SUPPOSE TO BE IN PAIN!

Guest · Guest

I had my gall bladder out 25 years ago and have had on and off digestive issues ever since. About 18 months ago, after gaining some weight I put on some jeans that were unusually tight and when I bent over experienced extreme pressure and pain on my upper right abdomen. Since then, the entire upper right side of my abdomen seems "thick" and like it is one solid mass. I don't call it pain but just constant discomfort. It radiates to my back as well, feeling like tight muscles in the back. Food often feels stuck as it passes this area. I have had numerous tests and my gastro doctor told me after the last one that he is almost certain it is scar tissue from the gall bladder surgery because the way the surgeon did it (one 5-inch vertical cut just above the navel) required reaching in and moving things around. I think the scar tissue was always there and I upset it with the jeans incident. Anything around my waist is uncomfortable and there are times that it is hard to believe scar tissue can be so uncomfortable. He does not recommend removal. Ugh!

MelindaF6 · Newbie Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 1

Hi there. I'm so glad I found this thread.
My doctor just left me a message on my machine telling me that my pain is caused by scar tissue as a result from my gallbladder surgery 5 years ago.
I have the exact same symptoms you all have described. Pain under/in the right rib cage area. Is it tender to the touch for anyone else? I tought I was going to cry when I had an ultrasound.
Last month the pain got worse. I always referred to the pain as my " phantom gallbladder pain" and I only experienced it durring stressfull times.
Has anyone gotten over this without further surgery?

My pain meds just ran out...so I'm very nervous about living through this.

I hope everyone has a pain free weekend.

Melinda

elorra · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

Massage can help with adhesions/scar tissue that cause pain like this.
http://www.clearpassage.com/pain/pelvic-abdominal/digestion.php
http://www.clearpassage.com/pain/adhesions.php

mccaskbb · Newbie Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

I had an out patient surgery 3 weeks ago (remove my ovals). He took some pictures during the surgery of what looks like my gallbadder. (that should have been taken out in 1975). He said it appears to be a lot of scar tissues around the area. I am having discomfort on my left side, I get full very fast, and it feels like at times there is something under my left ribs......can you help me? Sad

jancw · Newbie Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1

I had my surgery 2 weeks ago today with the laparascope. I too was assured that after 7-10 days I'd feel pretty much back to my old self. Well my old self never had indigestion. I have IBS but never diarrhea like I get now. But worst of all is the right-side pain. As I sit here typing I'm trying to breath 'over' the pain (old Lamaze technique) and it helps. The other day I was trying to rub off the remaining sticky tape residue where I assume my gallbladder used to be and I got a terrible searing, tearing kind of pain and now that spot is sore to touch most of the time. Guessing maybe I just disturbed a healing spot but I feel awful. Nausea and occasional lowgrade temp (no more than 100). I've called the doctor, spoken to his nurse who assured a call back. That was 3 days ago. Today he's in surgery. I don't want to sound like a hypochondriac but I assumed I'd be back to work in another week or so (I'm a personal chef so lots of lifting, time on my feet). Not like this, or at least not with real pain meds. I also have fibroymalgia, which has flared up but this is not fibro pain. It helped to read this forum though and see that I am NOT loosing my mind or imagining the pain. Hope everyone finds relief and answers soon. Do you get the feeling that sometimes doctors think this pain is in our heads or we're exaggerating it? After all...they figure they removed the cause right?

Guest · Guest

I made the mistake of having 3 1/2 hour emergency laparoscopic gall bladder surgery in 1999. I woke up in the operating room and just 6 weeks later my sutures ripped open. My surgeon claimed that I was fine and that the intense pain and bulge in my right side of my belly button was "scar" tissue. I was bent over in pain and couldn't stand up when I went for my appointment.
Actually, a CAT Scan confirmed that my intestine came out through a 3 x 4 inch opening and I required hernia repair with a mesh. Less than a year later, the bulge came back and so did 24/7 pain. I went to another surgeon to do the repair.
I found out that this type of surgery is called "swiss cheese surgery" and I have been told by a medical secretary that it requires a repair in 70 to 80 percent of the cases (the percent is not documented by professionals).
While I was waiting for my hernia operation (in 1999),a nurse told me a patient in the adjacent room was scheduled for the same repair operation following laparoscopic gall bladder surgery.
I am damaged for life. The hospitals are happy because it is "repeat business". There are days I cannot roll over in bed, cannot bend to make a bed and am in worse condition than my 84 year old mother. Gall bladder surgery "runs in my family" but I am the only fool who did it laparoscopically. My surgeon stated to me, "If you think you look bad on the outside, you should look at your insides". Very sad indeed!

scar tissue attached to intestine after gall bladder surgery

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